Loose-leaf binder



NOV. 5, 1929. CONRAD LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Sept. 20, 1928 Patented Nov. 5, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ISIAH CONRAD, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO I. 0. SCHOEDINGER, OF COLUMBUS,

OHIO

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER i Application filed September 20, 1928. Serial No. 307,194.

This invention relates to an improved loose leaf holder 'or binder and is especially adapted for service in hospitals or the like, for the purpose ofholding and protecting the loose leaf sheets upon which clinic or other records or memoranda are maintained. These records are constantly employed in active cases and are subject to considerable handling by those noting the progress of each individual case, and since these records are kept on paper sheets, it is necessary that an ei cient holder or binder be provided therefor to protect the sheets from defacement, mutilation or other damage or impairment affecting their usefulness. I

The holder or binder comprising the present invention provides means for meeting the above requirements and consists broadly of a pair of: flexibly connected covers or binding members between which the record sheets are removably positioned. The back cover is provided with outwardlyprojecting pins or studs which extend through perforations in the upper edges of the record sheets to fix the retained positions of the sheets between the covers, and in addition to this, the front cover includes a spring actuated clamping or gripping member, which is so constructed and arranged, that when the covers are brought into closed relation, the gripping member, through spring pressure will be forced into and maintained in clamping engagement with the record sheets or leaves,

securely holding the latter between the covers. The front cover further includes a flap which is hinged to the gripping member, but so mounted as to be independent of the clamp ing action of the gripping member, whereby the record sheets may be readily viewed without disturbing their fixed positions within the holder. I

The foremost object of the invention is the provision of a holder of the above nature wherein an improved structure or spring arrangement is presented for the purpose of controlling the clamping action of the gripping member on the sheets. This arrangement is such that while a positive and secure grip is impartedtto the sheets by the gripping member, yet the latter by simple and easily effected manual operation, may be moved from active to inactive clamping positions without difiiculty, noise, or other objection of a like nature which so strongly characterize th operations of previous holders designed lar characters of reference denote-like and corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof Figure l'is a perspective view of the improved holder or loose leaf binder comprising the preferred form of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the binder showlng the covers thereof in an open posltion.

Figure 8 is'a vertical sectional view'taken I through the clamping end of the binder and showing the gripping member in its clamping position, and

Figure l is a similar view showing the gripping member in an open or releasing position. I

Referring more particularly to the details of the specific form of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the improved binder in its entirety. In this form of the invention the binder is formed to include a relatively fixed back-cover or member 2, and'a movable front-cover 3. These covers are preferably formed from sheet metal and may beof any suitable size and proportion to accord to the size of the individually removable record sheets at which are adapted to be held Within the binder between its covers. The back cover 2 has one end thereof bent to provide an angularlyextending flange 5, t0 the outer end of which is hinged as at 6, a gripping or clamping member 7, forming a part of the front cover structure 3. This member consists of a flanged portion 8 which'terminates in an angularly bent downwardly extending web 9, and the lower edge of this 'web is adapted to be forced by spring pressure into and out of clan'iping engagement with the record sheets 4. To the lower edge of the web there is hinged as at a flap or cover 11, also constituting a part of the front cover structure. The flap is free to move about its hinge connection 10 with the gripping member T, in or er that access to the record sheets may be readily obtained without i terfering with the retention of said sheets in the hinder. The flap serves to completely protect the record sheets, even when the binder is roughly handled; to guard the sheets against wear and tear and to insure privacy as to the matter provided upon the records. The sheets are further retained within the binder by providing the back cover with a pair of fixed or studs 12, which project forwardly and are adapted to pass through perforations 13 provided in the upper ends of said record sheets ano also through registering perforations 14 formed in the gripping member.

Gne theessential features of the present invention consists in the provision of an improved spring arrangement for controlling the spring action of the gripping member. in prior devices of this kind considerable dilflculty has been experienced in opening or closing the covers to control the insertion or remoi' al' of record sheets with respect to the binder. The principal ob ection in a mechanical way to these prior structures, has

consisted in the faulty spring construction,

which has been both difficult and tedious to operate and wears out quickly after but relatively short periods of use. To obviate this the present invention provides a strip of resilient material 15, which is secured to the back cover 2' in a fixed position by rivets 16 so as to extend in spaced relationfroin and parallel to the flange 5. Thevgripping mem: her is formed with a plurality ofoffset, and in this instance integral lips '17, which project downwardly and inwardly from the .upper edge of the gr pping member adjacent to thehinge connection 6. The free edges of these lips are rolled or rounded, as at 18, to engage with similarly rolled or rounded portions 19 provided upon the strip 1-5 and disposed midway between the spaced rivets 16. These parts are proportioned and arranged so when the gripping member is oscillated to assume a closed or clamping position, the resilient member will be flexed until after the free ends of the lips 18 have passed beyond the rounded portions 19 of said strip, whereupon the pressure on the series Strip i somewh r e e d th sp 'ing is allowed to return to its normal posi: tion, pressing strongly and firmly on the 101?: set or crank-like lips 17, in suchmanner to force the lower gripping edge of the memhe 7 in o fi m and pos e gagement wi e r ord h e s in h bin e Th a esreadi s a t ontske pl c wh n t grip:

ping member is moved to assume the open position set forth in Figure 4. By rounding the meeting edges of the lips 17, and the spring strip 15 l secure a firm and positive operation, but one which may be effected with but a minimum of mechanical dii'liculty. In this connection it will be observed that the portion of the front cover may be used a lever to assist the operator in moving the gripping member against the resistance offered bv the s n'in stri 15. Another feaa a 1 PSIUQS 1n extending the strip 15 beyond real side edges of the back cover 2, so as to produce horizontal GXtGIISlOIlS or trunions, which are used in supportlng the binder upon any suitable rack or other The rip om member 1s also orob a "that the specific details shown are of course subject to slight modification or variation and that such changes may be made in the 1 structure of the binder without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

l v hat is claimed is:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a back member having a forwardly projecting flange along one edge thereof, said flange occupying a plane substantially at right-,aigles to the ma n body of the back member, a gripping 7 member having its upper [edge formed to provlde an angnlarly extend,- ing flange, a hinge connection between the flanges of said back and gripping members, a spring structure for maintaining the free edge of saic gripping member in yieldable engagement with said back member consisting of a leaf spring fixed to said back member and having a rein-forced outer edge portion, and an inwardly offset lip projecting from the flange of said gripping memher and arranged to impart stress to said leaf spring by cooperation with the reinforced edge portion of said spring when said gripping member is moved ,to assume a clamping position; with relation to said back member.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a back member formed with a forwardly projecting flange along the upper edge thereof the outer edge of said flange being terminated in eyes constituting a portion of a hinge, a grippipg member of substantially the same width as h s d b nk m mb nsai g pniesmcmh in P vided with a sense termin t: ins al g, e dg ther of e plurali y o eyes arranged for complement-a1 registration with the eyes of said first-named flange to provide a hinge connection between the back and gripping members, a hinged pintle with in said eyes, rigid posts carried by said back member and extending perpendicularly from the latter, said gripping member being provided with openings adapted to receive said posts, a strip extending parallel with the flange of said back member and spaced from the latter, a mounting for said strip for rigidly connecting the latter to said back member and admitting of the flexing of one edge of said strip, angularly disposed tongues formed with said gripping member and arranged to cooperate with the free edge of said strip to retain said gripping member in and out of clamping engagement with the back member, and a cover plate hinged to the lower edge of said gripping member.

3. In a loose leafbinder, a back member consisting of a flat sheet of rigid material, with a flange formed on its upper edge and projecting forwardly from the latter at substantially right-angles to the general plane thereof, the forward edge of said flange being provided with eyes, a hinge pintle within said eyes, a gripping member formed from a rigid plate-like material and having the upper portion thereof provided with an angularly bent flange formed with eyes arranged in complemental relationship with the eyes of said first-named flange for the reception of the hinge pintle, said gripping member being movable relatively to the back member to admit of the clamping of removable sheets of material therebetween, a metallic strip extending parallel with and immediately adjacent to the flange along the upper edge of said back member, connections between one edge of said strip and said back member admitting of the flexing of the outer longitudinal edge of said strip, and a plurality of tongues formed with said gripping member and projecting inwardly from the latter for swinging movement in unison therewith, the outer ends of said tongues being terminated for frictional engagement with the unsupported outer edge of said strip whereby the latter operates to exert spring pressure on said tongues to positively retain said gripping member in and out of clamping engagement with the back member.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a gripping member hinged at one end to said back "member, a metallic strip having spaced supports connecting said strip with the back member, the portion of said strip lying be tween said supports being resiliently mow able, outwardly disposed tongues projecting from; the gripping member for engagement witlrthe resilient portion of said strip to retain said gripping member in and out of engagement with the back member.

In a loose leaf binder, a back member,

a gripping member hinged at one end to said back member, a metallic strip carried by said back member near the hinged end thereof and positioned at a right-angle thereto, said strip being free at one edge and mounted to flex to either side of its rightangular position with respect to the back member, outwardly disposed tongues projecting from the hinged end of said gripping member and adapted to engage with the free edge portion of said strip, said strip and tongues serving to retain said gripping member in and out of engagement with the back member.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a back member, a gripping member hinged at one end to said back member, an elongated metallic strip carried by said back member and having its outer free edge portion arranged parallel to the hinge between said members, a tongue carried by said gripping member and projecting inwardly so as to engage with the outer free edge of said strip, so as to impart stress to said gripping when it is moved to assume a clamping position with relation to said back member. I

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ISIAH CONRAD. 

